Did you hear about the two fellows that went fishing on the southern shore of Baffin Bay, ran out of gas and ended up in the north end of Alazan Bay?  That's just a part of the story but the reason why was because they did not have an anchor on board.

The anchor is one of the most taken for granted pieces of equipment on your boat until it must be used. In able hands it can perform a most needed function.  It can help you stand your ground in the face of an approaching storm, keep you a safe distance from a menacing shoal, provide a pleasant lunch break while on the hook or station the boat over your favorite fishing spot.  Whatever the reason, the anchor is the best tool to keep the boat in one spot when not tied up to the dock.

The holding power of a modern anchor is solely dependent on its design, size and weight.  This is equally true for anchors that hook into the ocean bottom or for those that bury themselves into the sand or mud.  The design, size and weight of an anchor directly reflects the anticipated loads it is expected to handle.  The greater the wind, current and wave action, the flukes, which is the holding power of the anchor, must be larger and longer.

No matter how good the anchor, it will not function properly until sufficient line, which is called scope, has been used.  The scope permits the flukes to reach an angle at which they will achieve holding power. The greater the scope the greater the holding power.  In our area a scope of seven feet of line for each foot of water depth will work very nicely.

When it comes time to deploy the anchor, only the rankest amateur will toss the anchor with an overhead heave.  That method of deployment will give the experienced boaters in the group a hearty laugh.  If you really want them to come rollicking out of their deck chairs, just forget to make the end of the anchor line fast to a cleat. Hence the name bitter end as it passes overboard and out of sight.

The proper way to deploy an anchor is to maneuver the boat over the spot where the anchor will dig into the sea bottom.  This spot is up wind and/or up current of the final desired location of the boat when the anchor is set.  Gently lower the anchor overboard and slowly back away down wind and/or down current until sufficient line is deployed for a scope of seven to one.  Cleat the anchor line off and check to make sure the anchor is not dragging. If it is, let out more line or retrieve the anchor line to make sure the anchor and anchor line are not fouled.